Remote control



Get.. 3, 1950 J. KELLOGG 2,524,449

REMOTE CONTROL Filed Oct. 1l, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @CL 3, 1950 J, KELLOGG 2,524,449

REMOTE CONTROL Filed Oct. l1, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3, 1950 J, KELLOGG 2,524,449

REMOTE CONTROL Filed Oct. 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 3, 1950 J. KELLOGG 2,524,449

REMOTE CONTROL Filed Oct. 1l, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 patented ct. 3, 1'956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTE CONTROL Joseph Kellogg, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Nordberg Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 11, 1945, Serial No. 621,763

(Cl. Gil-54.5)

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a remote control mechanism adapted to actuate a member from a point remote therefrom.

In remote control devices now being used, there is usually a small amount of play in the members, which results in inexact control of the op erated member. Further trouble is experienced in extending the present controls around corners and particularly sharp corners. Where such changes in direction are necessary, the friction increases and considerably more power is required to operate the mechanism.

One object of the present invention is to provide a remote control in which the operated member will follow exactly the movement of the operating member.

Another object is to provide a remote control in which friction is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a remote control which will operate around relatively sharp corners.

AA further object is to provide a remote control which will be simple to install and economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a remote control which may be operated with a minimum effort.

A still further object is to provide a remote control having no lost motion.

Other objects will become apparent from the following specication, which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrate two forms of the invention.

In its broad aspect the invention comprises a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an operating member, means connecting the operating member with the piston, an operated member, a cylinder adjacent the operated member, a piston in the last named cylinder, means connecting the last` named piston with the operated member, hy draulic means connecting the cylinders to transmit compressive stresses between the pistons, and mechanical means connecting the pistons to transmit tensile stress between the pistons.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a layout of the remote control embodying the invention as applied to a mine hoist;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the remote'control shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view through the center of the operated end of the remote control; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational View similar to Fig. 1 but showing a slightly modiiied form of the ini vention.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, particularly to Fig. 1, the remote control is shown in connection with a mine hoist. The operators platform lil supports a control panel I2 containing the usual gages (not shown) and a brake lever l5. `The brake lever i5 is pivoted at i t to the control panel l2, and is connected to the` 1, operating side of the remote control, generally designated il, forming the subject of this invention, by a bell crank lever I8. j

The brake (not shown) is operated by a double action brake lever 2i), which is pivoted at 22 to the brake post of the machine and has links 24 i and 25 pivoted on opposite sides of the pivot 22 to actuate the brake posts (not shown).

The end of the lever 20 opposite the pivot 22 f is connected to a setting weight (not shown) `through a cross head 21 and aconnecting link 23. The weight acts to set the brake and must be lifted to release the brake and free the drum. The brake is released by a hydraulic cylinder,v and piston 3i), which is connected to the cross" head 2 by a connecting rod 32. Flow of oil into the lower end of the cylinder Eil, below the piston raises the weight. The ow of oil into andout 1 of the cylinder 3S is controlled by a main valve 35. .f The valve 35 is connected by a link 36 through a pivotal connection 3l to a floating lever 40. A l guide link 39 is pivotally connected to the frame f of the machine, at one end, and to the link 36 and lever llii atthe other end, while the end of the lever lll opposite the pivot 3l is pivotally connected to a link t2, which is, in turn, pivotally connected to the main lever 20.

. The `operated end of the remote control i mechanism il is connected to the lever 40 interi mediate the ends of the lever, to return the valve to neutral when the brake has moved to the required position. In the event power goes off while the machine is being operated va solenoid 48 operates an auxiliary valve 5i? to apply the brakes and stop the hoist. "ll

The remote control which joins the brake lever l5 with the brake lever 2U is best seen in Figs.

2 to 5, inclusive. Referring to those figures, a cylinder til is mounted in or adjacent the panel l 2 and receives a piston 62 which is connected to the outer end of the bell crank lever I8. j

rlhe cylinder has a packing gland 64 at the y upper end which prevents oil leaking past the piston from overowing a recess 65. A drain 3 pipe tt returns oil which leaks past the piston 62 to its source.

The lower end of the piston 62 is connected to a pull rod through a chain link 19. The pull rod SS is mounted in a pipe or tubing 12 which has a fluid tight connection with the cylinder 5d.

The opposite end of the tubing 12 is connected with a fluid tight connection to one sheave A of a plurality of similar sheaves A, B and C. Each of the sheaves A, B and C comprise a body portion 11 having a cylindrical aperture 18 therethrough which accommodates a grooved wheel B0.

The wheel is mounted on an axle 82 which is held in apertures sb-S3 in cover plates SE-i. The cover plates are held to the body portion 11 by means of bolts 88 which pass through both cover plates and the body portion and are secured by nuts til. Gaskets or other suitable means may be employed to provide a fluidftight seal between the cover plates @Fw-3G and the bodyl portion 1li.

The body portion il has apertures Si and 92 therein tangential to the sheave wheel and extending into the aperture 18. While the apertures el and 92 are shown as being at right angles to each other it will be understood that they may be arranged at any convenient angle, depending on the angle through which it is desired to change the motion.

The end of the rod 5S opposite the link 'lil is provided with a chain which is so connected with the rod 68 as to flex readily about the wheel 8D.

Sheaves A and B are connected by a pull rod 91, which is connected to the chains 95 in both sheaves A and B and transmits tension therebetween. The pull rod el is enclosed in a tubing 98'which has a iiuid tight connection with both sheaves A andk B.

The sheaves Band C are likewise joined by alpull rod Fig. 2, which is connected to chains in each sheave and enclosed in a tubinglti. The tubing till has iluid tight connections with both the sheaves B and C.

Thesheave C is connected with the operated endv l5 of the remote control by a pull rod iet, Figs. Zand 5, which is connected to the chain 95 in the sheave C and to a chain link H35, Fig. 5, at the operated end or the remote control. The rod |53 is likewise enclosed in a tubing l which has. a fluid tight connection with the sheave C and with an operated cylinder it?.

Aleferring to Fig. 5, the link i635 connects the rod It with an operated piston ilu in the cylinder it?. The piston |||l may be directly connected with the link to actuate the brake in a manner to be described below. The links ill and |05, the rods 91, iii@ and ltd and the chains te constitute a mechanical means connecting the pistons to transmit tensile stress therebetween.

The cylinders @ii and le?, the tubes 12, 93, mi and U36 and the sheaves A, B and C constitute a uid conduit adapted to transmit compressive stress through the uid medium between the pistons. The conduit is filled with oil or other uid through a supply pipe M2. The oil flows from a pressure source through the pipe ii2 and past a check valve l into the pipe 93, the pressure source insuring that the entire system remain constantly full of fluid under pressure. When the fluid used is a liquid the high points in the remote control are provided with vents. Such vents are shown as pet cocks llt and ||1 opening into the cylinders e@ and l'l, respective ly. Air in the system may be vented by opening the pet cocks HG and |51 allowing liquid to fill the system completely. Where gaseous fluid is used the pet cocks may be eliminated.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 6 the control is adapted to return to normal when the brake handle is released.

As shown, the bell crank lever I8 is connected to an operating piston |25 which is mounted in a cylinder |21. The piston |25 is connected to a pull rod l29, which is connected to a chain ISE, which passes around a sheave |32 similar to the sheaves A, B and C. A second rod |34 joins the chain i3@ with a chain (not shown). The chain, not shown, operates around a sheave |31 similar to the sheaves A,'B and C. A rod IES connects the chain in the sheave |31 with an operated piston |40. The piston |40 operates in a cylinder i653 and may be connected to the heating lever dil.

The cylinders |21 and M3 and sheaves and 31 are connected by pipes M5, ide and Mi which enclose the rods |29, i3d and ld, respectively, and cooperate with the casings of the sheaves to form a fluid tight passage adapted to transmit compressive stresses between the pis tons.

The pipe Het has a pipe l5@ connected thereto which leads to a pressure source |52. The prcssure source |52 is maintained constantly under a greater pressure than developed by the levers dil or il and supplies liquid to the remote control system under that pressure. The pipe i512 profvides free ingress and egress for the liquid in the remote control.

The space above the cylinders 21 and lfi, may be provided with drain pipes |55 and 255 which return oil leaking past the pistons to the oil pump.

The cylinders |21 and |43 may also'be provided with pet cocks |51 and |53 to vent air in the system.

Operation In operation the remote control systein, shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, is lled with oil through the pipe H2 and check valve He at sufcient pressure to place the mechanical means S, 95, 21, mii, lli?,v and |05 which connect the pistons t2 and il@ under an initial tension which removes all. slack from the system.

The air is eliminated from the system. by opening the pet cocks H6 and ||1 until oil flows out the cocks. The pet cocks il@ and lil are then closed and the control is ready for operation.

The operator, wishing to apply the brakes, would pull back onthe lever i5, or to the right as seen in Fig. l, causing the bell cranklever to raise the piston 62. This movement tra s mitted from the piston |52 through the link the rods @23,21, mi] and ide, the chains in the sheaves A, B and C andthe link to the piston lid drawing the piston down amount precisely equal to the movement of the piston 432.

Moving the piston downwardly moves the valve element in the valve 35 downwardly draining oil from the cylinder 3c causing the lever 2u to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot 22, applying more brake action. As the lever 2Q rotates counterclockwise, the lever 4U raises the pivot point 31 to its original position before the lever i5 was moved, thus stopping further rlow of oil from the cylinder Sli and stopping further movement or" the brake shoes.

When it is desired to release the brake the lever 5 is moved forward, or to the leftv as shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the lever forward moves the piston 62 downwardly in the cylinder 5U, forcing oil in the cylinder 66 out through the pipes l2, 98, lill, and |06 into the cylinder IDT, raising the piston ||i3 in the cylinder |D`| precisely the same amount that the piston 62 moved down.

it will be noted that, since there is oil pressure in the system, the chains and pull rods are under constant tension, and there is, therefore, no lost motion between the strokes of the piston,

When the piston i il! moves upwardly, it moves the valve 35 up causing cil to flow into the cylinder 39 raising the piston rod 32 and turning the lever 25 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 22. As the lever 29 rotates clockwise it relieves the brake and simultaneously the lever d lowers the pivot point 3l to its original position which closes the valve 35 and shuts off further flow of oil to the cylinder 36 thus stopping further brake release.

The sheaves A, B and C provide a substantially frictionless corner around which the chains 95 may transmit the stress in tension. The chains are arranged on the rods to iieX around the sheaves. It will also be noted that since the pistons 62 and HD are the same size they displace equal amounts of liquid and normally a constant amount of liquid is in the control member. Any liquid which leaks past the piston 62 is caught in a recess B5 in the cylinder and drains back through a pipe 56 to a liquid source. Similarly, a drain 66 is provided for liquid which leaks past the piston ll.

In the system shown in Fig. 6 the piston |25 is larger in area than the piston I. Consequently, when pressure is exerted on the piston |25 the oil from the cylinder |21 iiows out of the cylinder, part of this oil iiowing through the system to raise the piston |40, and the excess oil flowing out through the pipe |55 and back into the oil pressure tank |52. When the bell crank lever I8 is released, oil from the pressure tank |52 exerts pressure under both pistons |25 and |40. Due to the diiTerence in areas of the pistons |25 and Hill, there is an unbalance in the system and the pressure acts to force the piston |25 into its uppermost position.

Due to the linkage joining the piston |25 and |40, the lineal movement of the one piston corresponds at all times to the lineal movement of the other.

The amount of friction in the system depends on the number of sheaves and upon the pressure in the system. The fewer sheaves and the lower the pressure, the greater will be the efficiency of the control.

If desired, either of the remote controls shown may be operated with air in place of the oil. In the event that air is used it is necessary to maintain the air pressure higher than any pressure that might be exerted in yoperating the system.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken merely as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the f scope of the subjoined claims.

That which is claimed as new and is desired to be secured yby Letters Patent is:

1. A remote control adapted to actuate an operated member from an operating member spaced therefrom, said control comprising: an operating cylinder adjacent 'the operating member, an operating piston in said cylinder, means connecting the operating member with the operating piston, an operated cylinder adjacent the operated member, an operated piston in said operated cylinder, said "operated piston having a diierent diameter than said operating piston, means connecting said operated piston with the operated member, a fluid conduit joining said cylinders to transmit uid pressure between the pistons, said conduit including two parts at an angle to each other, a fluid under pressure in'said conduit and between the pistons, a surge tank under pressure to supply iluid under pressure to said conduit, a sheave in said conduit at the angle, and tension resisting means in said conduit joining said pistons, said tension resisting means having a flexible portion extending around said sheave.

2. A remote control as defined in claim 1 in which the operating piston is of greater diameter than the operated piston.

JOSEPH KELLOGG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 770,298 Maguire Sept. 20, 1904 1,035,849 Bergens Aug. 20, 1912 1,983,962 Barber Dec. 11, 1934 2,109,114 Kerr Feb. 22, 1938 

